Method of controlling and controlling mechanism for machines for cleaning and opening cotton and forming the same into laps



H. WILKINSON Sept. 29,1931. 1,825,168

METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26. 1929 AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON INYENTOR? h/l/lfi Jan 2 o w Eff;

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mmon 0F CONTROLLING AND CONTROLLING uscmmrsu FOR ncumns FOR CLEANING AND orsnnw com'ou AND FORMING THE sum m'ro mrs Filed Nov. 26. 1929 ShOOtS-SX'IOQt 2 ll L l J R E A at E T v w Ir Sept. 29, 1931. H. WILKINSON METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM F OR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS e Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 26. 1.929

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n TTO R NEY Sept. 29, 1931. H. WILKINSON 1,325,168

METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND CONTROLLING "ECBANISI FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Filed Nov- 26. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV ENkTOR:

BT: BTToRnr'ETS Sept. 29, 1931. H. WILKINSON 1,825,163

METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Filed Nov. 26. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTOR:

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,825,168 IBCHANISI ND OPENING COTTON ORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Filed Nov. 26, 1929 l NTROLLING 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 H. WILKINSON 5 FOR CLEANING A AND F METHOD OF CONTROLLING AND -CO FOR MACHINE FIG. 11.

Sept. 29, 1931.

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITEDI'STTA'TES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WIL INSON, OEOLDHAM, HEN-GLAND, ssI'GNoR or oNE-IIALF TO PDA'I'I' BROTHERS A D coMr NY LIMITED, or OLDHAM, ENGLAND METHOD or CONTROLLING AND CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES non CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Application filed November 26, iszaseriarito. 409,813, and in Great Britain- February 22, 1929.

This invention concerns cotton cleaning, opening and lap forming apparatus wherem the fibre is in part mechanically and in part pneumatically conveyed while being dealt with or acted on in grouped machines, and

there are two groups of cleaning andopening machines, one a preliminary grou and the other a further or refining group, the'refining group finishing with lap-forming mechanism, there being pneumatic or other conveyance between the preliminary group and the refining group and through the refining group which concludes with-the lap forming mechanism. v The present invention is a continuation .in part or extension of that shown and described in my copending applicationSerial No. 409,812.

As regards the preliminary group, this may be any suitable combination of conveying and opening apparatus and may embrace a creeper lattice,fillingmotion, hopper opener, hopper. feeder, cylinder opener,

Crighton opener or in fact anypreliminary group of an efiective'nature, the material dealt with thereby being pneumatically. conveyed if necessary over: a grid. dust trunk (but the cotton maybe otherwise'conveyed) to the second or refining group with which our improvements are particularly concerned. I v p In this second .or refining group, pneumatic conveyance is madeuse of, along with dust cages and two cylinder or other openers of an approved type, together with other apparatus such as a hopper feederfedwith cotton pneumatically or otherwise conveyed and delivering to a lattice, together with allnecessary feed'rollers, etc., but the particular combination is capable of considerable variation. i

In the more modern type of cylinder or other opener from which the opened cotton is conveyed by an air pipe to succeeding cages, there is a vastly greater: distance forthe cotton to travel from the opener' to the dust cages, it may be some 13 feet as against 4 feet for example.- As a consequence when a machine is stopped, on completion of a lap,'

the fibre in transit betweenopenerand dust cages is much more considerable, and such volume of fibre tends to bank-up at the'dust cages with result that uneven laps would be formed.

If the reader will referto U. S. A. Patents Nos..1,452,138 and 1,485,240 he will see there a type of cylinder opener which involves a long air trunk passage way to. the combined cages, but it must be understood that the improvements are in no way confined to cyline der openers of this character.

I will deal with a two set cylinder opener and cages each set with pneumatic interconnecting tube, the second set followed by a lap forming arrangement of more or less well known type. A

The object of the present invention is to produce as a direct result of the apparatus (and mechanism to be indicated) very even and uniform laps, in fact, laps such as can be fed direct to cards, thereby doing away with such apparatus as say finishing scutchers; To this end and according to the present system of working, I propose to exercise atriple and independent control on the apparatus from horizontal or inclined feed lattice to final cages and I divide the combined apparatus into three groups or sections for control, or as regards the sequence of operations as to starting and stopping. These groups can be defined as No. 1 the horizontal or inclined lattice and its rollers etc. (together with the anterior apparatus whichprecedes it) No. 2, the first pair of cages, cage rollers, feed rollers, etc., N o. 3 the second pair of cages, cage rollers, lap or calender rolls, etc.

In order to secure uniform and even laps for the reason specified I arrange to periodically and automatically start the groups in the following sequence, first, the group-No. 1, then the group No. 2 and then the group No. 3. Inversely I periodically stop the groups in the following order, first, the group No. 1, then the group No. 2, and then the-group No. 3 which is the'peri'od of completion of the lap.

In theory, the group No. 1 goes on operating until it has supplied the requisite quantity of fibre to be forwarded to grou No. 2 and then it stops, and No.72 group. orwards its" measured supply to No. 3 group and then stops, while group No. 3 supplies its measured supply to produce the lap when No. 3 group stops, and No. 1 group re-starts and so on.

Such is the system upon which I intend to work and the various operations and controls can be effected by mechanism which is to some extent known on various textile machines, but this hasbeen adopted, modihed and combined for the purpose of carrying the invention into effect. Further it has been requisite to devise or alter mechanfsmin respect of the triple control necessary under my invention.

It will facilitate a proper explanation of I the invention if I hereafter referitoand describe one refining group of apparatuses without in any way limiting the invention to such particular group or arrangement, and I shall describe appropriate mechanism for governing and controlling thecombined apparatuses which are shown.

The accompanying drawingsillustrate the combined apparatuses, and thenecessary control gear and mechanism for working such combined apparatuses according to "the method or principle of the invention.

In thesaid drawings Fig. 1 is a general sectional elevation of the complete refining group of apparatuses. Figs. 2 and 2 together constitute a side elevation of the greater part of the refin ng group seen in :Fig. 1 and show some of the .necessary control gear and: mechanism.

Figs. 3 and 3 together constitutea plan view of .Flg. 2.

Fig. 4 IS an enlarged side elevation, in

sections, and shows more clearly certain of gear tobe readily followed.

Fig. 8 shows in section a form of spring wheel whichis applied tothe bottom calender roll.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation partly in section of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows the volute spring device .which is combined with the spring wheel.

Fig. 11 shows in sectional elevation the spring motion clutch which is appliedzto the counter shaft.

Fig. 12 is a face view partly iii-section of -the structure seen in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of the clutch for effecting the driving of the feed rollers of the cylinder opener, the horizontal lattice. etc.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of one half of the clutch shown in Fig. 13.

The reader will presume any preliminary group of apparatuses feeding pneumatically over a grid dust trunk 1, (Fig. 1) or otherwise, along a tube 2 to an over-head condenser group3 and delivering into a hopper feed 4 with spiked lifting lattice 5, control devices, and any mechanism delivering onto a horizontal or inclined lattice such as 6 with the known feed'rollers 7, etc. (this being group No. 1). The feed rollers 7 deliver to a cylinder opener 8 (similar to U. S. A. patent specification 1,485,240 or otherwise) with pneumatic tube 9 leading to cages 10 with cage rollers 11, cylinder feed rollers 12, etc. (this being group No. 2), then comes the second cylinder opener 13, with pneumatic tube 14, leading to the second cages 15, cage rollers 16, calender rolls 17, etc. (this being group No. 3-). The cylinder openers 8 and 13 constantly rotate and proper fans 18 and 19 are combined with the dust cages 10. and 15.

As'fully described in the copending application hereinbefore referred to, I apply to the lap end of the complete machine the more or less wellknown radial plate 20 (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) and thedriving gear therefor with the knock-01f lug 21. and goose-neck lever 22 (pivoted ats23) for-the lap drop lever 24 (pivoted at 25) and I use a modification of the known spring rod which as a whole is marked 26.

lVhen'the-lap drop lever 24 is lifted or engaged'(by hand) it brings a small gear wheel 27 into engagement with a more or less known type of spring wheel, assembly marked as a whole'28, which is located onthe axle of the bottom calender roll 17 said shaft being geared to drive the second set of cages 15, cage rollers 16, lap rolls 17, etc. (group No. 3) as shown at the upper left hand portion of Fig. 7. The spring wheel assembly and its details are well shown at Figs. 3, 9 and 10, and comprises a flanged and sleeved disc 29 keyed on the. axle of the lower calender roll 17 and having an integral projection 30. On the sleeve of-said diskis mounted for rotation a spur wheel 31 having a projection 32. The spur wheel 31 has spaced gaps and a settable stud 33 is applied in an appropriate position forthe required timing. When the projection 32 encounters the projection 30 (on revolution of the spur wheel 31) the disc 29 is driven. A housing .34 is pinned on the axle 17 and there is a volute spring 35 anchored to the housing and to the boss of the spur wheel 31, sothat when the small gear wheel 27 is disengaged from the spring wheel 28 the spur wheel 31 falls back until the settable stop stud 33-encounters projection 30.

From the foregoing description cf the spring wheel 28 it will be clear that when the small gear wheel 27 is engaged with spur wheel 31, bythe lifting of the lap drop lever '24, it does not at once actuate the disc 29 because group No. 3 must start lastbut it is effective to drive the counter shaft 36.

ln the-present case, -'means is provided entbars 37 and 38 respectively, both of said bars being disposed in slots-formed in the lever and'each provided with a foot at its lower end to-retain it in its lowered position until pulled to the rear of its slot by means of the rod 26. Pendent bar 37, acting through a bellcrank 39 pivoted at 40, operates an adjustable connecting rod 41, lever 42 fulcrumed at 43, connecting rod 44, which in turn operates abellcrank fulcrumed a 46 (Fig 13) and one arm of which forms a yoke engaging an elongated sleeve carried 9 by a slidable clutch member 51 thereby to carry said clutch member into engagement with cooperating clutch member 48, both of 'saidclutchmembers being mounted for rotation on the shaft'of one of the feed rollers 7 5 of groupNo. 1.' The clutch, designated generally 47 and shown in detail in Figs. 13 and 14, includes an elongated sleeve portion formed on the clutch member 48 on which is keyed a spur wheel 49. -Keyed on the same feed rollers 7 the horizontal or inclined lattice 6, etc., group No. 1, from the known regulator motion 54 through the gear Wheels and carries seen at the upper right hand portion of first pair of 'cageslO.

By reason of the action of the engagement of'the lap .dro lever 24, pendent bar 38 is actuatedand t is operates through its adjustable connection 55 a bell crank pivoted at 57 (Figs. 4 and 11) one arm of which constitutes a yoke 56 in engagement with the sleeve of a slidable clutch member forming one member of a spring motion clutch designated generally 58.

The purpose of the spring motion is to prevent the drive for the first pair of cages 10, the cage rollers 11 and cylinder rolls 12, etc. (group No, 2) coming into action at once, as their actual starting is to be retarded.

The combined clutch and spring motion designated generally 58 in Fig. 11, comprises a pair of toothed shells or enclosing members 59 and 60, both mounted forrotation on a nism.

Fig. 7 and so the feeding of fibre takes lace to the first cylinder opener 8 and towa'r s the countershaft 36, the member 60 being adapted to be moved into intermeshing engagement with the clutch member. 59, as hereinbefore stated, by the operation of the bellcrank. 56. However, additional means independent of the bellcrank 56 is provided for bringing the clutch members into engagement, which means comprises an additional bellcrank pivoted at 63, one arm of which constitutes a yoke in engagement with the sleeve of the clutch member 60. A weight 61 is suspended from the other arm of said bellcrank, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. It will be understood, however, that, in place of the weight, the bellcrank may be spring-actuated if desired. The clutch member 59 is provided with a sleeve on which is secured a bevel pinion 64, in mesh with suitable gearing for receiving motion from the spring motion gear'28 hereinbefore described (see lower left-hand portion of Fig. 7). The shaft 36 has secured at its opposite end a bevel gear 65,'by means of which, when the counter shaft 36'is rotated motion will betransmitted through a bevel gear 92 and spur wheels 93, 94 to the cage rollers 11 and cylinder rollers 12, as well as to the first pair of cages 10 (group No. 2) by way of the gearing 95 between the rollers 11 and said cages. 0 shaft 7, between the clutch members 48 and Between the clutchmembers 59 and 60, a bushing 66 is keyed to the shaft 36, and on said bushing,-which is provided at one end with a radial flange, I have provided what mightproperly be termed a timing mecha- This mechanism consists of-a disk 67 keyed on the bushing 66 and having a hub extending toward a cruciform member 68 mounted for rotation on the bushing between saidhub and the flange of the bushing. The cruciform member is provided with a flange 68* extending toward the disk 67, said flange and the hub of the disk combining to form a housing for a volute spring 69 which is secured at its opposite ends respectively to said flangeand hub. Thecruciform member 68 is further provided with a recess 72 in the end of each of its arms, as shown clearly in Fig. 12, and the slidable clutch member 60 carries an axially extending pin 71 adapted when the clutch member is shifted toward its companion clutch member 59, to pass through one of the recesses 72 in the cruciform member, thereby to cause rotation of the clutch member as a unit with said cruciform member. The pin 71, however,performs still another function, that is, it acts as a stopmember, as will now be described. The disk 67'is provided with a plurality of openings 73, in either of which is adapted to be secured a pin 7 O projecting toward the cruciform member, the disk being 7 shown in Figs. 11 and 12 as provided with two 'CII through group No. 3.

est the disk 67 will move in the same. angular pathi'asj the pins 70 so that the pins 70 cannot rotate past the pin 71, and vice versa.

thisconstruetion, when'the clutch members are in engagement, by reason of the downward -movement of'thependent bar 38 as herelnbeclutch is idle the tension of the spring 69. has carried the fixed pin '71 of the clutch member into a position in advance of one ofthe stop pins of the disk 67, and therefore, upon engagement of the clutch members the clutch must rotate a certain distance be-- fore the pin 71 comes into contact with the otherpin 70 of the disk 67 whereby rotation of the shaft 36 is delayed during the travel of the pin 71 from one stop pin 70 to the other,

and in the meantime the spring has again been placed under tension.

Now as regards the bringing into action of group No. 3, that is, the secoiidpaii' of cages 15, the cage rollers 16 and lap rolls 17, etc, these are driven through the already described spring wheel 2-8 on the bottom calendar roll 17 which is set in motion by the lifting and engagementof the lap drop lever 2et,'but this spring wheel 28 for group No. 3 is timed to function a fraction of timelater than the spring motion in clutch 58 for groupNo. 2, so that it is clear that the 'inal cages 15, cage rollers 16 and lap rolls 17, etc, group No. 3, .comeinto action last, and they supply the fibre to produce the lap At this stage (group No. 3 acting) the lap is being wound on. At the appropriate momentthe lug 21 acts on the lug 26a of the spring rod 26 and moves same against the action of the spring 74, the spring rod being pivoted to the pendent bars 37, 38. The spring rod 26, being thus pulled, operates both pendent bars 37, 38, but at successive periods varying a fraction in-time due to the fact that the foot of bar 38 must be pulled a slightly greater distance to disengage it from the lever. The result of the initial movement 1s,

pendent bar 37 is disengaged, the lever 39,

attached at its opposite end to the end of hellcrank45, as shown in Fig. 4. Group No. 1 is thereby disengaged as to drive, as well as the drive for the mechanism of apparatus leading to-the horizontal or inclined lattice with which theinvention is not particularly concerned as will be understood.

The further or rather continued movement of'the spring rod 26 now disengages pendent bar 38, which due to the weight 61 disengages through the bellcrank 62 the clutch 58 on the countershaft 36 and'the drive for the combined spring motion in group No. 2, and as a consequence group No. 2 ceases to be driven.

Thesecondepair of cages l5, cage rollers 16 and lap rolls 1'? go on rotating until the libre i'UUVtlld'Of and leaving group No. 2, and group No. 3, is substantially exhausted, whereuponthe goose-neck lever 22 is automatically disengaged by projection 76, thus releasing the lapdroplever 24 as known. The release of the latter carries the small, gear wheel 27 out of mesh with the gear of the spring wheel 28 for group No. 3 thereby causing the rotation of said gear to cease and with it the second cages l5, cage rollers 16, lap rolls 17, etc, stop. This is the period of arrestation for removal of the lap in known manner. The volute spring 35 in the spring wheel" 28 for group No. 3 compels the projection 32 .to fall back until the stud 33 encounters projection 30 when the spring wheel isback to starting position.

To re-capitulate, on restarting the machine group No. 1 comes first into action, then group No. 2, and thengroup No. 3.

The shaft'TT on which the small gear wheel 27 is mounted is jointed or swivelled in known manner. in lap forming-mechanism and it is driven on the off-side of the machine by a spur wheel 78 from a. small spur wheel 79 on the shaft 80 which shaft is actuated by a crossbelt 81. As a consequence of the described gear, when the disc 29 in the spring wheel is driven, it actuates through the gear wheels and carriers on the off side of the machine, the calender rolls =17, cage rollers 16, and cages 15,.etc.

The particular means which may be combined with the apparatus before the horizontal or inclined feed lattice in group No. l is not material and may be greatly varied, but I may provide an extended connecting rod structure 82, 83 (Figs. 2 and 3) with one or more: L levers or other connections to the hopper feeder, if such is combined in the refining grou 2,. to arrest the conveying devices therein, byshifting a-belt or otherwise, and there may be connecting mechanism to the preliminary.group of machines whether in the same. room, .or elsewhere,:tostop the conveyance of cotton, via the-pneumatic tube or otherwise, to the initialhopper feeder 4 in the refining group of-apparatus with which my invention is really concerned, and during such time as the lap is. being removed and up to theperiod of restarting group No. 1.

The spring wheel 28 and spring motion clutch 58, are shown so constructed that the time when they become operative for driving after engagement can be variedat will, by changing theposition of the movable ,erative.

stop pins, but in any event it is clear that the spring wheel 28 for group No. 3 is operative a fraction of time after the spring motion in clutch 58 for group No. 2 has become op- The lap drop lever 24 requires, as is clear, to have two slots in its forward end for the pendent bars 37, 38 as will have been appreciated, and hardened steel bits may be fitted varying in width so that 37 disengages before 38, and I may fit an adjustable device to interconnect pendent bars 37 and 38 or to interconnect and adjust the hardened steel bits, or use any other equivalent adjusting means.

By the combination, actuation and control of apparatuses as set out'above I am able to thoroughly clean and open the fibre and to produce uniform laps, while the material is never manually handled from the initial feeding until removed in lap form.

I declare that what I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of three groups of mechanisms, a shaft geared to one of said groups, a driving gear mounted for free rotation on said shaft, drivingmeans movable into engagement with said gear, means between said gear and shaft for locking them for rotation together after the gear has ro- ..tated through apredetermined angle, means for rotating the other two groups and normally out of operative engagement therewith, and means automatically operative on engagement of said driving means'with the driving gear first to carry the rotating means of said two groups into operative engagement with their respective groups one in advance of the other and to cause locking engagement between said driving gear and its shaft at a predetermined period after the engroup with its rotat gagement of the second ing means. I

2. In an apparatus of the. character described, the combination of three groups of .mechanisms, a shaft geared to one of said groups, a driving gearmounted for free rotation on said shaft, driving means movable into engagement with said gear, means between said gear and shaft for locking them Lifer rotation together after the gear has rotated through a predetermined angle, means for rotating the other two groups and normally out of operative engagement therewith, means automatically operative on enigagement of said driving means with the driving gear first to carry the rotating means of said two groups into operative engagement with their respective groups one in ad vance of the other and to cause locking engagement between said driving gear and its shaft at a predetermined period after the engagement of the second group with its r0- tating means, and means automatically operative to disengage all of said groups from their rotating means in the same sequence,

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of three groups .of mechanisms, a-shaft geared to one of said groups, a driving gear mounted on said shaft and freely rotatable thereon, driving means movable into engagement with said gear, means be tween said gear and shaft for locking. them for rotation together after the gear has rotated through a predetermined angle,-xan intermediate shaft geared to another of said groups of mechanisms, a member mounted on said shaft and freely rotatable thereon, gearing between said member and said driving gear, means between said member and its shaft for locking them for rotation together after the member has rotated through a pre determined angle, a shaft geared to the other group of mechanisms, a pair of clutch members mounted for free rotation on said shaft, means for imparting rotary motion to one of said clutch members, means between said clutch members and shaft for locking them for rotation together when the clutch members are inengagement, means operative on engagement of thefirst driving means with said driving gear to cause operative engagement of the clutch members, and means auto matically operative during rotation of said driving gear first to cause disengagement 'of said clutch members, then to free the locking means of the intermediate shaft and then to carry the first driving means out of engage ment with the driving gear.

4. In a cotton-cleaning and lap-forming apparatus, the'combination of two cylinder openers, feed rollers for each of said openers, two pair of dust cagespneumatically con-- nected with the respective cylinderzope'ners,

cage rollers associated with each pair of dust cages, a plurality of lap rollers, a lifting lattice and a feed lattice, the said lifting lattice," feed lattice and the feed rollers for one of said openers constituting one group of mech anism, one pair of cages with their cage roll ers and'the feed rollers for the other opener constituting a second group, and the other pair of cages with their cage rollers and said lap rollers constituting a third group, and means for controlling the operation of said mechanism wherebythe first group will be started in advance of the second group and the second group in advance of the third group. and the stopping of 'the groupswill occur in the same successive order. i 5. In a cotton-cleaning and lap-forming apparatus, the combination of three dist nct groups of mechanism, individual shafts geared respectively to said groups of mechanism, a clutch member secured on one of said shafts, a cooperating clutch member mounted for free rotation on said shaft, said clutch members being normally out of en gagement, means for continuously rotat ng V said freely mounted clutch member, a-sprlng motion clutch mounted on another of 881d" shafts and comprising a pair of normally disengaged, freely rotatable cooperating clutch members and a spring motion disk disposed-between said clutch members and rotatable with the shaft, said spring'motion beingengageable by one of said clutch members to cause rotation of the shaft at a belated period after the engagement of said clutch members. a spring wheel device mounted on the otherof said shafts and adapted to rotate said shaft at a belated period, gearing between said spring wheel and one of the clutch members of said spring motion'clutch for starting rotation of said'clutch member simultaneously with the beginning of the rotation of the spring wheel, means for imparting-motion-to said s ring wheel and normally out of" engagement therewith, means for moving said motion-imparting means into engagement with the spring wheel and operative simultaneously to effect the enga'gement of'botli pairs ofclutch members, whereby the first clutch shaft will begin to rotate simultaneously with the spring wheel,

' the spring motion-clutch shaft will begin to rotate at a belated perioc after the said clutch shaft, and the spring wheel shaft will begin to rotate at a belated period after the spring-motion-clutch shaft. and means for 'mo'vingsaid motion-imparting means out of shafts. aicoopcrating clutch member mounted for free rotation on said shaft, said clutch members being normally out of'engagement', means for continuously rotating said freely mounted clutch member, a spring motion -clutch mounted on another of said shafts and comprising a pair of normally disengaged, freely rotatable cooperating clutch members and a spring motion disk disposed. between saidiclutch members and rotatable with the shaft, saidspring motion being-engageable by one of'said'clutch members to cause rotation of the shaft at a belated period after the engagement of said clutch members, a' spring Wheel device mounted on the other of said shafts and adapted to rotate said shaft at a belated period, gearing between said'spring wheel'and one of the clutch members of said.

spring motion clutch for starting rotation of said clutch member simultaneously with the beginning oftherotation ofthe spring wheel,

means for imparting motion to saidspringwheel iandnormally out of enga gement therewith, alever for'moving said motion-impart ingmeans into engagement with the spring wheel, a pair of pendant-bars actuated by said lever and operative simultaneously to effect the engagement of both pair of clutch members, whereby the first clutch shaft will begin to rotate simultaneously with the spring wheel, the spring motion-clutch shaft will begin to rotate at a belated period after the said clutch shaft, and the spring wheel shaft will begin to rotate at a belated period after the spr-i11g-motionclutch shaft, and means for moving said niotion-impaiting means out of engagement with the spring wheel thereby to disengage said clutch members and cause cessation of. the rotation of said shafts in the same successive order.

7'. In a cotton-cleaning and lap-forming apparatus, the combination of three distinct groups of mechanism, individual shafts geared respectivel to said groups of mechanism, a clutch member secured on one of said shafts, a cooperating clutch member mounted for free rotation on said shaft, said clutch members being normally out of engagement, means for continuously rotating said freely mounted clutch member, a spring motion-clutch mounted on another ofsaid shafts and comprising a )air of normally disengaged, freely rotatable cooperating clutch members and a spring motion disk disposed between said clutch members and rotatable with the shaft, said spring motion being engageable by one of said clutch men'ibcrs to cause rotation of the shaft at a belated period after the engagement of said clutch members, a spring wheel device mounted on the other of said shafts and adapted to rotate said shaft at a belated period, gearing between said spring wheel and one of the clutch members of said spring motion clutch for starting rotation of said clutch member simultaneously with the beginning of the rotation of the spring wheel, means for imparting motion to said spring wheel and normally out of engagement therewith, a lever for moving said motion-imparting means into engagement with the spring wheel, a pair of pendant bars actuated by said lever, a pair of bell cranksoperated by said pendant bars forsimultaneously effecting the engagement of both pair of clutch members, whereby the first clutch shaft will begin to rotate simultaneously with the spring wheel, the spring motioirclutch shaft will begin to rotate at a belated period after the said clutch shaft, and the spring wheel shaft, will begin to rotate at belated period after the springmotion-clutch shaft, and means for moving said motion-imparting means out of engage ment with the spring wheel thereby to disengage said clutch members and cause cessation of the rotation of said shafts in the same successive order.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY W ILKINSON. 

